Nestle to invest $43 million for plant in Philippines

A logo of the world's leading food industry group Nestle is seen on October 9, 2014 at the group's Research Center in Vers-chez-les-Blanc above Lausanne.  AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
A logo of the world’s leading food industry group Nestle is seen on October 9, 2014 at the group’s Research Center in Vers-chez-les-Blanc above Lausanne. AFP PHOTO /

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Swiss food giant Nestle said Tuesday it would spend two billion pesos ($43 million) in the Philippines on a plant to produce a key ingredient for its Milo beverage.

Nestle Philippines chairman Jacques Reber said the plant, due to be completed in October 2017, would produce a malt extract currently imported from Singapore.

Eventually the new plant will provide the local supply, possibly using Philippine-grown cassava which in turn will help Filipino farmers, Nestle said in a statement.

Nestle already has five plants in the Philippines and has invested almost 14 billion pesos in the country over the last five years, the company said.

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